Have We Become a "Treadmill Team"

[coldfish]

The Bulls overachieved the 2 seasons Rose was out, and arguably shouldn't have finished as high as they did in the standings.

In one season they finished 5th and got to the second round. In the other they finished 4th and were eliminated in the 1st. I see no evidence of over/under achieving.

It's absurd to claim that the regular season doesn't matter when 30 years of evidence shows that it matters a lot.

I find myself agreeing with you frequently.

I believe that something close to half the time, the team with the best record wins the title. Even further, when you start talking about regular season point differential its a great predictor of playoff performance.

People will point to anecdotal information about a team just coming out of the middle of the pack to win a title but they are the rare exception. Basically, having a great regular season doesn't guarantee a title but having a mediocre one pretty much guarantees not winning.

A lot of people I think were bothered most by the 2012 season where the Bulls were awesome in the regular and lost in the first. I'm not sure how a team can lose both Rose and Noah in the playoffs and deal with that though.

[Ice Man]

Probably. 45 wins, then 48 wins, about 50 wins this year. 4th/5th seed every year. That's as treadmill as treadmill gets.

If the Bulls advance to the ECF this year, then a reasonable argument can be made about this year's injuries/chemistry, and that there is hope for being better than treadmill next year.

[TimRobbins]

Probably. 45 wins, then 48 wins, about 50 wins this year. 4th/5th seed every year. That's as treadmill as treadmill gets.

If the Bulls advance to the ECF this year, then a reasonable argument can be made about this year's injuries/chemistry, and that there is hope for being better than treadmill next year.

And if they can't make the ECF?

[musiqsoulchild]

Probably. 45 wins, then 48 wins, about 50 wins this year. 4th/5th seed every year. That's as treadmill as treadmill gets.

If the Bulls advance to the ECF this year, then a reasonable argument can be made about this year's injuries/chemistry, and that there is hope for being better than treadmill next year.

And if they can't make the ECF?

Then you cant reasonably make the argument that Ice Man is proposing.

[dice]

we do not have a history of trading fan favorites

The FO has a history of trading anybody and everybody. Not a single player stayed here beyond the first extension since Pax took over. I doubt that changes.

and none were considered the heart of the team like derrick rose and joakim noah have been. not to mention major award winners/candidates

[TimRobbins]

and none were considered the heart of the team like derrick rose and joakim noah have been. not to mention major award winners/candidates

I fail to see why the line would be drawn there. Wasn't Deng the heart of the team at some point? In any case, Noah is gone within a year and if Rose could be traded, he would be gone too.

[dice]

and none were considered the heart of the team like derrick rose and joakim noah have been. not to mention major award winners/candidates

I fail to see why the line would be drawn there.

basic psychology and marketing

[TimRobbins]

and none were considered the heart of the team like derrick rose and joakim noah have been. not to mention major award winners/candidates

I fail to see why the line would be drawn there.

basic psychology and marketing

Based on history, I believe the marketing pitch would be a rebuild around Butler/Mirotic and a 2016 FA. We've been sold the FA plan so many times, why not again?

[dice]

I fail to see why the line would be drawn there.

basic psychology and marketing

Based on history, I believe the marketing pitch would be a rebuild around Butler/Mirotic and a 2016 FA. We've been sold the FA plan so many times, why not again?

certainly possible. hard to believe it'll happen this offseason. maybe noah will be dealt in his contract year next year, assuming injury issues linger. i don't see rose going anywhere until his contract is up

[TimRobbins]

certainly possible. hard to believe it'll happen this offseason. maybe noah will be dealt in his contract year next year, assuming injury issues linger. i don't see rose going anywhere until his contract is up

Here is the scenario I'm seeing:

1. 1st/2nd round playoff loss this season.
2. Thibs fired.
3. Taj salary dumped in the offseason.
4. Team struggles to start the 2015/6 season.
5. Noah salary dumped.
6. FO tries to trade Rose (not sure if successful).
7. FO sells the fans on a rebuild around Jimmy/Mirotic and the 2016 FA class.